Blog

The Geales relaunch does not fire on all cylinders, but the Brackenbury motors serenely on. Zuma produces another superb meal, while Salt Yard reigns supreme in tapas, even if it is run by Australians.

Summer fun at the Taste of London festival

The Thai Bistro is no more, but Budsara is born in its place. Hawksmoor produces a fine steak, while Deya serves up some terrific Indian dishes. I get a further lesson on why it is unwise to leave the tube network when eating, this time in Warwickshire.

Sonnys continues its return to form. Two different Spanish experiences this week with Barrafina and Moro, while Kiasu is that rarity in London - a Malaysian restaurant. Canteen underwhelms but Zafferano makes up for it.

Meals this week at the Capital, Foliage, Hakkasan, High Road House, Madhu's and Agni. I also find the most expensive beer in London at a restaurant - £9 a bottle anyone?

The Brilliant continues to live up to its name, and I manage to break the £10 a head barrier at Diwana Bhel Poori. I also return to Arbutus. On another subject, Marcus Wareing 0, Jill Dupleix 1.

Another busy week, with meals at the Fat Duck, Pied a Terre, Gavroche and Locanda Locatelli. After all that French and Italian food I needed a curry at Haandi.

Meals at The Square, Zafferano and Haandi all delivered, but then it was time to up a gear. Off to Paris and dazzling meals at Meurice, Ledoyen and Astrance, although Pre Catalan was hugely disappointing. London has nothing to fear on ethnic foods though, based on my poor Japanese and Vietnamese meals in Paris.

Manoir aux Quat' Saison produces a superb meal, and Tom Aikens also delivers a high quality experience. I venture into the world of fusion cuisine at Providores, and have an erratic meal at Michael Moore.

A busy week, with an erratic and costly meal at Suka, an excellent dinner at Roussillon and another at the Ledbury. I even ventured out of London to the Vineyard, and found time for a deeply mediocre curry in Hammersmith. At which place was I sat next to a movie star?

Chez Bruce purrs along. Smiths of Smithfield wisely sticks to serving top class meat without too many distractions. Sadly chef Mark Jankels is no longer at the stoves of the Notting Hill Brasserie, and it shows. The Waterside Inn shows a few imperfections, though both the view and the bill are spectacular.

Ex chefs at Zafferano cooking at Manicomio produce a pleasant meal, and then Zafferano itself shows how Italian cooking should be done. Tangawizi produces another excellent meal; I don't usually get excited about lentils, but the dhal here is fabulous.

A superb meal at Tantris in Munich, though a poor one at Acetaia. Back in London, Boxwood Cafe is disappointing and a chain burger beats its signature dish. I have an "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers" moment in Chiswick.

Munching in Munchen. A superb meal at Konigshof in Munich. By contrast Aubergine in London disappoints but the Brilliant in Southall is as reliable as ever.

A mixed week, with ever-reliable Haandi showing up some of London's trendier venues. Rocket in Putney has everything right apart from the kitchen, Green and Red in Shoreditch disappoints while I jump into the Deep end in Fulham. Also, a fine burger in W4.

The recently refurbished Gordon Ramsay purrs along. A room with a view is the Petersham Hotel dining room. The new chef at Caprice hasn't changed the formula. I had an excellent tasting menu at Foliage and a cynically poor one at l'Escargot.

The Brilliant is successfully refurbished, while St Alban struggles to deliver value for money. I had good meals at Pearl and Yauatcha, while a new Lebanese restaurant is erratic. For the revamped Gordon Ramsay stay tuned next week.

A tale of two curries: fine Indian food in darkest Twickenham, and a return visit to Agni. Zafferano delivers once more, and a mixed bag of tapas in Richmond. Also, the Michelin France 2007 results est arrive.

A fishy week, with meals at Scotts and the Fish Shop on St John Street. The under-rated Rousillon continued to show high class technique.

Good meals at the High Road Brasserie and Royal China. The Michelin results are (except France) mostly in, and an odd lot they are.

A week of fine food in Goa.

Blogging from India! Some classy South Indian food in Chennai in particular. Also, Michelin makes some surprising choices in the UK.

Bonds does a good meal despite a bear market in customers. A new tapas bar in Twickenham works well. Haandi continues to impress.

Two good bistro meals at Tom's Kitchen and High Road Brasserie, and from the sublime to the ridiculous of Italian food: Zafferano v Vino Rosso in Chiswick

A generally good meal at Maze, despite dangling wine glasses.

A tasty meal at Eight Over Eight in Chelsea and an even better dinner at Yauatcha.

Pearl turns out to be very good value for such a smart place, and the Good Curry Awards has some odd choices.

A fine meal at the ever-improving Notting Hill Brasserie, and a general whinge about the cost of eating out on Christmas day.

Reviews of Royal China Club, the Brackenbury and La Trompette and how fire engines kept me from a new Chiswick restaurant

Tragedy as Stephen Black leaves Berkeley Square, but on the bright side a smart new Vietnamese restaurant opens in Smithfield.

Tom's Kitchen is a great success, and Zafferano continues to deliver top Italian cooking.

A lengthy meal at 1 Lombard Street interspersed with stroppy service, but reliable fish and chips in St John Street. Fine curries at Rasa Samudra and the Brilliant.

Tasty South Indian cooking at Oottupura, reliable Chinese food at Royal China and ups and downs (but mostly downs) in Chiswick at Vacherin and new opening Carvosso's.

Excellent new chef at Sonnys in Barnes, top Indian food at Haandi and a sneak visit to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

Read about my visit to Ledbury. My review on Sabras in Willesden and also some important information about the Good Food Guide forcing councils to publish hygiene inspections of restaurants.

3 star Can Fabes near Barcelona is very good though less so than previous visits. The Michelin Guide to California comes out, and I have both a fine Indian meal at Haandi and a dismal one at Green Chilli.

The 2007 Good Food Guide hits the bookshelves. Roussillon delivers an excellent meal. Chiswick gets a new gastropub, and a decent one it is.

Atelier Robuchon hits London. It is good food, but the price is high. Mehek betrays no reason whatever for its recent award at the British Curry Awards.

Deya produces a fine meal, while the British Curry Awards is bewildering despite the glamour. Zafferano excels itself.

Pied a Terre produces a very fine meal. Yauatcha and Zafferano also show why they have Michelin stars.

The Brackenbury shows how to do local bistro when so many others disappoint. The Thai Bistro is simple but pleasant.

Sumosan is pleasant, but why not just go to Zuma? Ootapura is a different and good addition to the King Street array of Indian places.

The Square purrs along, though it lacks real excitement. Jeevan in Wembley is not worth the trip.

Eight Over Eight in Chelsea is identical in appearance to E&O, and fortunately the food is almost as good as well. Bentleys shows why you should never go to a fish restaurant on a Monday.

Cocoon is like an Austin Powers set, but the food is surprisingly good. Zafferano produces a fine wild sea bass dish.

Pied a Terre shines after its reopening. Zuma shows why it is so popular, and Patara is the best Thai restaurant in London. High Road House opens in Chsiwcik, and the luvvies love it.

Noisette is pleasant but expensive, and Bjorn van der Horst shows the dining room his extensive English vocabulary. Galvins Bistro is fine, but I cannot really see what the fuss is about. Excellent Indian cooking at Rasa Maricham and the Brilliant in Southall, and the usual at Zafferano.

Mark Jankels is a fine chef, and the Notting Hill Brasserie an excellent spot. Bellamys in Mayfair was rather dull, but I have enjoyable meals at Trompette, Rasa Maricham and the Thai Bistro. Le Talbooth in Essex is a tragi-comic meal: beautiful setting, shame about the truly awful food.